Unicorns

Luke is a mid-20s white man in London, divorced, with custody of his 5-year-old son, working as a mechanic in his father's garage. One night, he stumbles upon a south Asian nightclub, meets alluring woman Aysha, and they kiss, before he realizes that "she" is a drag queen.

Aysha feels an interest in Luke, and also needs a driver to drive her to various gayasian events where she performs. She tracks down Luke, and he agrees to the job because he needs the money. However, this develops into at least a friendship, as they do other things together, like sing karaoke.

So here are two people who are divided by race, culture, religion (Aysha's family in Manchester is Moslem), sexual orientation, and gender identity. Can they overcome all these differences, and be each others' unicorns?

I saw this at the world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, where the director said he was inspired by an out British Asian drag queen. He noted that South Asian drag was realistic rather than glamorous, and a certain number of the background characters were actual drag queens in their customary attire.

"Luke" (Ben Hardy) stumbles upon a bar where the largely young and beautiful Asian clientele are enjoying a dazzling performance on stage from "Aysha" (Jason Patel). Despite the fact that he's only just got laid in a field, he's captivated by her and so when she comes to say hello after her routine, he is quite besotted. Thing is - well those Adam's Apples - they are a dead giveaway and "Luke" flees in polite terror, but terror nonetheless. This leaves "Aysha" with a problem, though, as her possessive pal "Faiz" (Sagar Radia) goes off in a strop leaving her without a lift to a lucrative gig in Birmingham. She was also a bit smitten by "Luke" so tracks him down to the garage he works in with his father, and offers him £200 to be her chauffeur. Reluctant, he remembers that he has promised is son "Jamie" (Taylor Sullivan) a trip to Disneyland, and that's not going to pay for itself. The journey isn't really that far, but when a few other drag queens cadge a lift, too - well, let's just say that "Luke" gets a look at a culture he's never experienced before. The plot itself is fairly predictable, not dissimilar to "Femme" from last year, but there's a fun degree of chemistry between Hardy and Patel that maybe a little too simplistically, but still entertainingly, both challenges and reinforces stereotypes. What's eminently clear is that "Ashiq" is an unhappy and unfulfilled man who comes alive when his alter ego takes over, but is there any future at all in a friendship quite so viscerally at odds. It's tightly cast, and works best when it's just the two lead actors engagingly messing about, getting to know and trust each other and, well... who knows? To be fair, it doesn't need a cinema screening but it is an amiable, occasionally bitchy, film and I quite enjoyed it.

What amazing acting, casting filming! Like directors filming capturing clues each other notice about new people. I was so uncomfortable watching these two talk, I was walking on eggshells when Aysha was, and got that feeling like any moment someone would catch the characters out when they take Lukes son to the fair. Invested in these characters. Theres a shocking scene where I was truly stunned ( did it really go there?!)I had to rewind to see that moment again and then just gripped by how two characters NEW to everything ( it seems) inch their way through through the Aftermath with themselves and their families. And chuffed with the ending.

From the writing to the directing to the acting, this was a phenomenal piece of cinema! A beautiful love story with the clash of worlds handled so beautifully it wasn't the usual clichéd nonsense. Absolute credit to the actors, especially Ben and Jason, they were incredible. Fully fleshed out characters that were flawed, damaged, believable and you couldn't help but root for them. All ensemble actors did they're job so beautifully as well, not a single weak link in the casting. Hats of to the Director for bringing this incredible story to life. And yes, I'm aware I keep saying incredible but that is just what this film was. Couldn't look away from start to finish. Well done to everyone involved.

Unicorns is a very authentic feeling queer love story that delivers two compelling lead characters with some great performances behind them.

The story carries a few surprises but for the most part is quite understated and poignant. What I really like is that it doesn't try to over complicate or explain things about sexuality. It just focuses on the characters and their relationship and it makes the queer element of it feel quite authentic and real.

There aren't too many bells or whistles to the film making, and it does feel a bit long for what it is. Those are minor criticisms though of what is an otherwise very poignant and intriguing film.